Segments in this Video

Charles Lindbergh: Introduction(01:10)

Lindbergh was a methodical pilot who redefined aircraft capabilities. He became a celebrity and symbol of American ingenuity, and was refused induction into the Army Air Corps during WWII.

Lindbergh's Early Years(02:34)

Lindbergh, born in February 1902, grew up on a farm in Minnesota. He studied engineering, attended flight school, worked with barnstormers and purchased a plane in 1923. Lindbergh enlisted in the Army Air Service cadet program.

Early Career(02:16)

Lindbergh was selected as a pursuit pilot and trained in "flaming coffins;" he opted for a reserve assignment. In 1926, he worked for Robinson Aviation, delivering mail.

Aviation Contest(03:39)

Raymond Orteig offered $25,000 prize for the first nonstop flight between New York and Paris; Rene Fonck and Admiral Robert Byrd were unsuccessful. Lindbergh decided to fly alone and placed a plane order with Ryan Aircraft.

Spirit of St. Louis(03:56)

The plane had a 46 foot wingspan and a Wright J5C engine. Lindbergh flew across the U.S., setting a transcontinental speed record. He carefully planned the trip from New York to Paris and became a hero after successfully crossing the Atlantic.

Celebrity Status(02:56)

Lindbergh returned to the U.S. aboard the U.S.S. Memphis and became the center of attention everywhere he went. He wrote a book, toured with the Spirit of S. Louis, and met Anne Morrow.

Public and Personal Life(02:55)

Lindbergh proposed starting an airline and his partners established Transcontinental Air Transport. He married Morrow, taught her to fly, and fathered a child in 1930; the baby was kidnapped a year later. The Lindberghs moved to Europe to escape the media.

Life in Germany(01:53)

Hermann Göring invited Lindbergh to inspect the German air force; Lindbergh felt safe in Berlin. He returned to the U.S. in 1937 and urged the U.S. to stay out of European affairs; the press treated him as a traitor.

WWII Involvement and Post-war Life(01:29)

Lindbergh tried to enlist but Henry Stimson refused to recommission him. Lindbergh joined combat patrols and shot down a Japanese fighter; he was grounded. After the war, he wrote, became a consultant, and spent time with family.

Description

Charles Lindbergh was a pioneer of flight. As the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic, he played an important role in the development of aviation. He also became a celebrity on a scale never known before, and had to go almost to the ends of the Earth to escape the paparazzi and tabloids. A symbol of American ingenuity and bravery, Lindbergh was a true Legend.